PhD Courses in Denmark

Objectives of the course:

The aim of the course is to introduce course participants with projects that include descriptive histopathological examinations to

1. the principles of sampling and processing of tissue for histopathology
2. the principles of veterinary general pathology
3. the principles of making histopathological descriptions and use this for evaluation of slides in connection to projects

The focus will be on common production and companion animals, mainly mammals. But projects based on poultry or fish are also accepted.

Learning outcomes and competences:

At the end of the course, the participants should be able to:

• understand the principles of general pathology.
• use fundamental terms for description of histopathological lesions in tissue.
• take prober samples for histopathology and choose the appropriate fixative.
• understand the principles of processing tissue samples for histopathology.
• discriminate between normal histology and artefacts that occurred during fixation and processing.
• understand the basic principles for immunohistochemistry and how to assess pitfalls and errors in staining processes.
• make decisions regarding evaluation and interpretation of histopathological changes in the tissues of their individual projects

Course parameters:

Language: Danish, as most course material for practicals is only in Danish. But can be held partly in English, if course participants read, but do not speak Danish

Level of course: PhD course

Time of year: Autumn 2025

No. of contact hours/hours in total incl. preparation, assignment(s) or the like: 46/112

Capacity limits: 4

Course fee: none for PhD students enrolled in Danish Universities

Compulsory program:

Active participation in the course including giving oral presentations of theoretical subjects and histopathological slides (peer to peer learning and teaching).

The course participants should also present slides from the course participant’s individual projects or at least from projects that are similar to what they want to do in their own project.

Course contents:

1. Introduction to fixation and staining principles including practical exercise in the lab (approx. 2 hours lecture) and two days (6-7 hours each) in the histolab with training in fixation, processing, trimming, cutting and staining
2. Six seminars, where the course participants prepare and give summary lectures to the rest of the group on general pathology topics followed by exercises in histopathology to train description, interpretation and presentation of histopathological changes based on digital slides from ANIVETS digital slide platform TUTOR. The course participants are expected to take turns in preparing and presenting two to three slides from the digital slide archive within the topic at each exercise (3 hours pr theory and practice session).
3. Two additional training sessions (can be done on-line) in description, interpretation and presentation of histopathological changes based on digital slides from ANIVETS digital slide platform TUTOR or other scanned slides. The course participants are expected to take turns preparing and presenting two to three slides from the digital slide archive within the topic at each exercise.
4. Introduction to immunohistochemical staining (approx. 2.5 hours lecture including quizzes) plus two theoretical exercises (1.5 hours)
5. Individual project presentations from the course participants and discussion (at least 1 hour each) including additional project sessions with an introduction to interpretation, description and presentation of pathological changes based on the course participants’ own slides (physical or digital) to support decision making regarding the course participants’ individual projects. In these sessions it is expected that the course participants will show some slides from their project or similar slides and discuss a plan for evaluation of the slides including expected lesions and potential scoring systems. These sessions will be planned according to the number of participants and their projects.

Prerequisites:

1. Ability to read and understand written Danish is necessary
2. Prior knowledge of general and special histology (normal anatomy) equivalent to bachelor and/or master level of e.g. veterinary medicine or human medicine is necessary.
3. Preferably some previous knowledge in general and special pathology
4. A PhD project, where histopathological examinations are intended to be included
5. Some slides from the project ready for evaluation, or some slides from a similar project or case study ready at the time of the course.

Name of lecturers:

• Tine Moesgaard Iburg
• Malene Ruskjær (practical exercise in the histolab)

Type of course/teaching methods:

The course is a course with a mixture of theory and practical sessions. The course is mainly based on peer-to-peer teaching and learning.

Literature:

Recommended literature for general pathology theory is Zachary JF. Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease. 7. Ed. 2022 (section I on General pathology). However, other older theory books on general veterinary pathology like Slauson & Cooper. Mechanisms of Disease A Textbook of Comparative General Pathology or Cheville, N.F. Introduction to Veterinary Pathology are also useable. Other literature will be relevant papers and digital handouts depending on the course participants projects. In connection to the participants presentation of own projects, the participants should also share one or two papers on their subject.

Course homepage:

None

Course assessment:

Course is assessed as passed/non-passed based on attendance and active participation in the presentations and discussions.
 

Time:

Dates and times can be subject to change upon agreement in the group

Part 1: Week 37-38

1. Session - welcome and introduction, lecture on Tissue sampling, fixation, trimming and processing (2½ H) September 10th 8:30-11:00
2. Lab day with exercises (approx. 7H) September 17th 8:00-15:00
3. Lab day with exercises (approx. 7H) September 18th 8:00-15:00

Part II: Week 39-41 + 43

1. Session – Peer to peer lecture on General Pathology subject incl. slides (3H) Sept. 25 9:00-12:00
2. Session – Peer to peer lecture on General Pathology subject incl. slides (3H) Sept. 26 9:00-12:00
3. Session – Peer to peer lecture on General Pathology subject incl. slides (3H) Sept. 29 9:00-12:00
4. Session – Peer to peer slide presentation (General pathology slides) (1½H) Oct. 9, 9:00-10:30
5. Session – Peer to peer lecture on General Pathology subject including slides (3H) Oct 10 8:30-11:30
6. Session – Peer to peer lecture on General Pathology subject including slides (3H) Oct 24 8:30-11:30

Part III: Week 44

1. Immunoday (5 H) Oct 27th 8:30-14:00 (incl. lunchbreak)
2. Project presentation including slides (2 participants) (4H) Oct. 28th 8:00-12:00
3. Project presentation including slides (2 participants) (4H) Oct. 29th 8:00-12:00

Place:

AU Viborg, rooms to be announced. A few of the sessions can be made on-line on agreement.

Course fee:

PhD students enrolled at Danish Universities: No fee

PhD students enrolled at a non-Danish University: DKK 6000,- (The fee is excluding materials, travel, accommodation, meals, etc.)

Registration:

Deadline for registration is 4 September 2025. Information regarding admission will be sent out no later than 8 September 2025.

For registration: Please send an email to Emma Bonde Stanek (ebs@anivet.au.dk) including a few lines of application with contact information, education,  title and start year of PhD project, plus previous experience with general and special histology and general veterinary pathology. The email should preferably be in Danish.

If you have any questions, please contact Tine M. Iburg, e-mail:  timi@anivet.au.dk